The 12-inch silicon wafer developed by the National Information Optoelectronics Innovation Center is the basic material for producing integrated circuits (IC). [Photo/Optics Valley of China]

The 2021 development report on Wuhan's "optics, IC, displays, terminals, and internet" cluster was released on Nov 21, indicating that the number of major firms in the cluster has exceeded 500, and that the number of listed companies in the area may double within three years.

Boasting an annual output valued at around 260 billion yuan ($40.69 billion) over the last year, the cluster has also extended its developing space by coordinating with other emerging sectors, including satellite navigation, internet of things, automobile electronics, medical electronics, and quantum communication, with its extended output reaching 500 billion yuan.

The scale of Wuhan's IC business has surpassed 10 billion yuan, and it has developed the world's largest optical fiber and cable manufacturing base and most full-fledged optoelectronic industrial cluster area in China. Wuhan also excels at smart terminals, especially the manufacture and R&D of computers and mobile phones, and has been selected as a 5G network pilot city.

According to the local government, action plans will soon take shape to assist industrial firms with platforms, talent, and capital. In addition, strenuous efforts will also be put in place to promote China's four bases in the city – the computer memory base, the cyber security base, the intelligent connected vehicle base, and the aviation industry base.